There are now less than 50 days to go before the launch of Europort 2015 at the Ahoy Rotterdam conference and exhibition centre. This year’s event, which takes place between November 3rd and 6th, is the 37th Europort to be held in Rotterdam and has already attracted over 1100 confirmed exhibitors, including 15 country pavilions, from 40 countries.
Ship efficiency is a key Europort theme this year, with a number of features added to the 2015 programme to stimulate debate about this vital issue for ship owners and operators against the backdrop of extreme fuel price volatility.
On the 4th of November the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) will host the Energy Efficient Ships 2015 conference, one of four conferences that will take place during Europort. Exploring the recent technology advances that enhance energy efficiency within the maritime sector, the RINA conference papers will cover: energy efficient ship design and operation; the practical aspects of energy saving devices; the integrated design of an asymmetric aftbody; and designing a propeller to maximise energy efficiency. There will also be papers highlighting research into decreasing the wind resistance of large container vessels and how to support the energy efficient ship design process with energy flow simulation.
Other innovations this year include the Europort Masterclasses – an initiative of Europort organiser Ahoy Rotterdam – and Netherlands Maritime Technology.The Masterclasses include one focusing specifically on ‘Leadership through efficiency’, while the morning session on November 5th addresses Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) and ways to achieve zero down time, highlighting the newest concepts in the CBM field. There will also be a Masterclass on fuel strategies, offering insight into global marine fuel trends and options for retrofitting existing vessels.
Improved vessel operating efficiency will also be a key topic on the exhibition floor, where more than 1100 companies will showcase new services and technical concepts intended to optimise the way ships operate and perform. Raymond Siliakus, exhibition manager Europort, says: “All of the leading industry names will be present, and visiting the exhibition is a sure way to find out about new solutions that will improve efficiency and the bottom line for ship owners and operators. A visit to Europort is certain to increase awareness of key industry trends and technical challenges and give companies the tools they need to compete more effectively, given rapidly changing market fundamentals.“
Europort returns to the world port city of Rotterdam from 3 – 6 November 2015.
